Changes
==History==
When Fantasyland was originally being designed for Walt Disney World, Imagineers decided that they did not want to simply make a recreation of Disneyland’s dark rides. Instead they wanted to replace the Disneyland dark rides (Snow White’s AdventureAdventures, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride) with new attractions, based on different movies. Imagineers came up with three new proposals for attractions- one based on Sleeping Beauty, one based on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and one based on Marry Poppins. Although proposed later (in 1977), another planned attraction for the Magic Kingdom was Enchanted Snow Palace. The attraction would have been a dark boat ride through a magic snow world. Due to the extra cost, and perhaps Roy Disney’s disapproval, it was eventually decided to recreate the Disneyland dark rides in the Magic Kingdom. Fantasyland opened along with the rest of the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. Unlike the other lands of the Magic Kingdom, Fantasyland took its inspiration from the Disney movies themselves. The opening day attractions for Fantasyland were: [[Dumbo the Flying Elephant]], the [[Mad Tea Party]], Snow White’s AdventureAdventures, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, [[Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel]], the Mickey Mouse Revue, [["it's a small world"]] and the Skyway to Tomorrowland. Within the next month, [[Peter Pan's Flight]] and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage would also open, giving Fantasyland an astounding ten attractions by late 1971. Unlike Disneyland’s Fantasyland, which had more of a whimsical theme, the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland took a lot of inspiration from the European villages where many of the Disney stories were originally written.
Fantasyland remained largely unchanged until 1980 when the Mickey Mouse Revue was closed and eventually moved to the new Tokyo Disneyland. The Fantasyland Theater which had housed the revue remained unused until 1987 when the attraction, Magic Journeys moved in. Magic Journeys was a 3D show which allowed guests to see “the world through the eyes of a child”. The film had previously been shown in Epcot, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland before finally making its way to The Magic Kingdom.
In the early 1990s, Fantasyland underwent a series of changes. In 1993, Magic Journeys was closed and replaced with The Legend of the Lion King. The new attraction, which was based on Disney's The Lion King, used puppets, animation and special effects to tell the movies story. Further change came to the land in 1994, when the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage was closed. Although the exact reasons for the attractions closure remain unclear, 20,000 Leagues was not closed due to lack of popularity. Instead it may have been closed because the ride was not handicap accessible, broke down frequently, had a small max capacity and cost a lot to maintain. After the ride had closed the lagoon which housed it remained empty until 2001. Also in 1994, Snow White's Adventure Adventures was redesigned to be more like the Disneyland version of the attraction. When Snow White's Adventures reopened it was renamed Snow White's Scary Adventures. The reason for the name change was that the attraction had often scared younger children and the Imagineers felt that some warning was necessary.
Another opening day attraction closed in 1998, when Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was removed. Disney thought that a more known character would be better suited for the large building that housed the attraction. The ride was still popular however, and when news of the attractions closure spread, a “Save Toad” campaign was started. Despite the campaign Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed on September 7, 1998. The attraction was replaced by [[The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh]], which opened in 1999. Also in 1999, the Skyway to Tomorrowland was closed. The decision to close the attraction came after a Disney World employee was killed while cleaning a platform on the attraction. Although Disney said that the accidental death had nothing to do with the ride closing, the Skyway would never open again.
'''Pooh's Playful Spot'''- Pooh's Playful Spot was an outdoor playground for little kids. Based on the popular Winnie the Pooh cartoons and movies, this attraction opened in 2005 and closed in 2010.
'''Snow White's Scary AdventureAdventures'''- Snow White’s Scary Adventure Adventures was a dark ride based on the 1941 Disney movie Snow White. The attraction allowed guests to ride along through the story of Snow White. Snow White’s Scary Adventure Adventures opened with the park in 1971 and closed in May 31, 2012.
'''Mr. Toad's Wild Ride'''- This dark ride was based on the 1955 Disney movie the Wind and the Willows. On this attraction guests road along with Mr. Toad on a crazy, jerky ride through London. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride opened with the park in 1971 and closed September 8, 1998.
'''Hundred Acre Goods'''- Located just outside of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh exit, Hundred Acre Goods sells Pooh merchandise.
'''Seven Dwarf's Mine'''- Located next to Snow White's Scary Adventurethe Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the Seven Dwarf's Mine sells Snow White merchandise, costumes and sleepwear. The store will be relocated as part of the Fantasyland expansion.
'''Sir Mickey's'''- Located next to Cinderella's Castle, Sir Mickey's sells all kinds of Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World merchandise.
* "La Fontaine de Cendrillon" (or Fountain of Cinderella),is a bronze statue of Cinderella located in the center of Fantasyland. This fountain is known as "Rags to Riches" because if you stand (actually, you may have to kneel) in front of Cinderella and look at the painted mural behind it on the castle wall, a painted image of a crown appears to be sitting on top of the princess' head. Although an adult may have to get low to see it, this was designed intentionally so that when children look at the fountain, they can clearly see the crowned princess.
* The opening day attractions in Fantasyland were, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, it's a small world, Snow White's AdventureAdventures, The Mad Tea Party, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, The Mickey Mouse Revue and Cinderella's Golden Carousel.
* The Sword in the Stone Ceremony used to take place several times daily in the area behind Cinderella Castle and in front of Cinderella's Golden Carousel. Presided over by Merlin the Magician, a child was chosen from the audience to Excalibur, the magical sword from the stone. He or she was then appointed "temporary ruler of the realm”.
